Work carrier for abrasive cleaning arrangements

ABSTRACT

A work carrier for use in abrasive cleaning arrangements comprises a support movable in a forward direction with generally vertical work engaging arms having hook-like projections for moving into and out of a work engaging position.

States Patent 1 91 lxer et al. 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] WORK CARRIER FOR ABRASIVE 3,495,720 2/l970 Mann ..2l4/l BA R E ENT 604,973 5 1898 Dinkey.....

CLEANING A RANG M S 3,152,830 10/1964 Pounder ..294/95 [75] Inventors: Bernard W. Ixer; Davis Lee Baughman, both of Hagerstown, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 615,105 11/1959 Italy 294/86 A 7 A 1 Th 0 b d c 3] sslgnee am in 2 um ompany Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza g Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 Attorney-David E. Dougherty and Robert E. Walter [21] Appl. No.: 83,362 [57] ABSTRACT A work carrier for use in abrasive cleaning arrange- 52 U.S. c1 ..214/1 BA, 294/95, 214/44 R mems comprises a Support movable in a forward [Sl] Int. Cl ..B66c 1/66 direction with generally vertical work engaging arms [58] Field of Search ..2l4/l BA; 294/95, 97, 86 A [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,944 ll/l 892 Jones ..294/97 having hook-like projections for moving into and out of a work engaging position.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARTIBYS I 3,722,710 SHEET 10. 3

| l 62 g 50 L PATENTEUmznm SHEET 3 [1F 3 WORK CARRIER FOR ABRASIVE CLEANING ARRANGEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a work carrier for holding and transporting work pieces which are subjected to a cleaning action such as by abrasive throwing wheels. Various carriers exist for various purposes. One particularly advantageous carrier is illustrated and described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,495,720 which includes a self-powered trolley having some type of work engaging means thereon. In addition to the above carrier, there is a need for work carriers which may be reliably used for holding particular types of work pieces which are to be conveyed through various cleaning stations.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide such a work carrier which is particularly adaptable for transporting articles having openings therethrough such as railroad car wheels.

In accordance with this invention a work carrier for use in abrasive cleaning arrangements comprises a support movable in a forward direction with generally vertical work engaging arms having hook-like projections for moving into and out of a work engaging position.

Rotation means may be provided for rotating the arms and the work carried thereby to facilitate the complete cleaning of the work.

The arms may be loosely pivotally engaged with ledges in a housing and the pivotal action may be controlled by the vertical movement of a ball or spherical member engaging the inner surfaces of the arms for moving the arms into and out of engagement with the work.

The ball may be at the end of a spindle which has a threaded extension engaged with a rotatable sprocket in such a manner that rotation of the sprocket causes the spindle to move up or down. The housing for the arms may have a tapered nose to assure positioning of the arms in the work and may include a skeletal framework to permit the arms to subsequently move out of the housing into engagement with the work.

A load station and an unload station may be provided on opposite sides of a blasting station with limit switches at the load and unload stations for controlling a piston cylinder assembly at each of such stations which in turn moves a chain-sprocket assembly into and out of engagement with the sprocket on the spindle.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an arrangement including the work carrier of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a work carrier in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the work carrier arms and its housing in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the lower portion of the work carrier shown in FIGS. 2-3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 4 along the line 55;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in elevation similar to that shown in FIG. 4 in a different phase of operation;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 6 along the line 77;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the upper portion of the carrier shown in FIG. 2 whereby the portions shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 comprise a crosssectional view in elevation of the entire work carrier shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the work carrier shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a general arrangement which includes a load station 10, a blast cleaning station 12, and an unload station 14. The stations are interconnected by means of an overhead rail 16. It is on this rail that the work carrier'30 is supported and pulled in a forward direction by any suitable translatory drive means such as power operated tractor 18. A sprocket chain assembly 20 is provided at load station 10 to cause the carrier to engage a work piece and a further sprocket chain assembly 22 is located at blasting station 12 to rotate the carrier and its work with a still further sprocket chain assembly 24 being provided at unload station 14 to disengage or release the work from the carrier.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a work carrier 30 in accordance with this invention. As indicated therein carrier 30 includes a pair of wheels 32 which are supported on rail 16 and pulled in a forward direction by the tractor 18 schematically shown in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that a single tractor may be provided for each work carrier or as shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of work carriers may be interconnected with a group of such carriers moved by a single tractor.

Referring again to FIG. 2 a housing 34 is supported by wheels 32 with a spindle casing 36 extending therefrom. The blast station 12 may be of a suitable construction and may includea treating chamber 13 having a pair of rubber lips 38, 40 at its upper end which are opened by plow 42 whereby the lips and plow form a traveling seal. This type of seal is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,4l8,756 the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. FIG. 2 schematically shows one of a plurality of cmtrifugal throwing wheels 44 which may be arranged at different elevations to thoroughly clean the work piece or railroad wheel 46 in a conventional manner.

FIGS. 3-7 show the details of the work engaging elements of carrier 30. As indicated therein a housing 48 is provided .and in general includes a tapered noseportion 50 which merges into a vertically straight portion 52 which in turn merges into an outwardly tapered 54 and terminates in a vertically straight portion 56. Parts of straight and tapered portions 52, 54 are made of skeletal form to provide a plurality of spaced openings 58. Within the housing 48 are a plurality, such as three, symmetrically arranged arms 60. Each arm terminates at its lower end in a hook-like projection 62 and includes a recess 64 for fitting against shoulder 66 of nose 50 so that when the arms are in the position shown in FIG. 4, which might be considered the work releasing position, the hook-like projections 62 conform to the general profile of housing 48 and thus the housing may be inserted into opening 70 in wheel 46. Tapered portion 54 prevents the housing from being inserted completely through the opening. Ledges 72 are provided in housing 48 to act as a pivot for each of the arms 60. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 housing 48 is open at its upper end and this upper end is closed by the caplike member 74 provided at the end of spindle casing 36. Each arm 60 includes an offset extension 76 which has a rocking lever surface 78 for contacting pivot ledge 72. Disposed above each offset portion 76 is a flange or a shoulder 80 which acts in such a manner in conjunction with ledge 72 so as to confine offset portion 76 in loose pivotal engagement with ledge 72. A further knob or projection 82 is provided on each arm thereby forming a recess 84 with the arm having a contact surface 86 which tapers inwardly from the recess toward the longitudinal center line of ball or spherical actuating member 88 to a point below the ball 88 so that the ball is confined in the generally pyramidal space formed jointly by all of the arms.

In operation carrier 30 is in the work releasing position shown in FIG. 4 when it arrives at load station 10. The carrier is inserted through opening 70 in wheel 46 by, for example, raising the wheel or if desired by lowering the carrier in any suitable manner (not shown). If carrier 30 should be somewhat misaligned from the axial center of opening 70 nose 50 would act as a guide surface to assure proper entry of the carrier into the wheel. In the position shown in FIG. 4 ball or spherical contact member 88 is in its uppermost position reacting against knobs 82 to assure that they are in the closed position and will not project from housing 52. When the carrier has been inserted a sufficient extent so that the hook-like projections 62 are below the hub of wheel 46 ball 88 is moved downwardly in a manner later described to cause the arms to pivot on ledges 72 to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the hook-like projections 62 engage the underside of the hub of wheel 46. Only a slight vertical movement downward is necessary to actuate the arms into this work engaging position. Advantageously, the downward movement of arm 88 on its spindle 90 is effectuated while maintaining a seal between spindle 90 and cap 74. In this regard as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 an expandable annular sealing member 92 is intimately secured in its central area 91 to spindle 90 while its outermost portion 93 is secured to cap 74. Sufficient material is provided for expandable seal 92 so that the seal can properly function in both the expanded work engaging position shown in FIG. 6 and the contracted work releasing position shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8-9 show the details :for rotating work carrier 30 and for moving the aims into and out of the work engaging position. As shown in FIG. 8 a sprocket 94 is provided on spindle casing 36 and is secured to the casing in any suitable manner such as by key 96. When the work is in the blast area shown in FIG. 1 chain 22 engages sprocket 94 to cause rotation of the sprocket and spindle casing and thereby also rotation of the work carrier arms and the work itself. The rotation is facilitated by suitable bearings 98.

The actuation means of work engaging arms 60 is also illustrated in FIGS. 8-9. As indicated therein a further sprocket 100 is mounted coaxially around spindie 90. Spindle 90 includes externally threaded extension 102 which is threadably engaged with the internal threads 104 of sprocket 100. The extension 102 is, however, prevented from rotation by any suitable locking means as key 106. When sprocket 100 is rotated the extension 102 is caused to move up or down in accordance with the direction of rotation of sprocket 100. As best shown in FIG. 8, threaded extension 102 is connected to spindle by means of a hollow extension 108 which includes flanges 110 whereby the end of spindle 90 is confined in the housing in such a manner that the spindle will move up and down with extension 102 but may rotate relative thereto with suitable bearings 112 being provided to facilitate the rotation. As is readily apparent spindle 90 is thereby arranged in such a manner as to rotate along with casing 36 but moves up and down with respect to the casing, whereas the spindle 90 is arranged for movement up and down along with its extension 102 but rotates relative thereto.

Because the translatory drive means such as tractor 18 is located in the same general area as sprocket 100 the inventive arrangement includes novel means for selectively engaging and disengaging sprocket 100 with its drive chain without causing any interference to the tractor. This novel means includes a limit switch 114 disposed for contacting cam 1 16 when the work carrier has moved to the load or unload station with such a limit switch being provided at each station. The arrangement also includes a sprocket chain 1 18 driven at one end by a sprocket 119 fixed on air motor 120 while its other end moves around a slidable sprocket 122. Sprockets 119 and 122 are interconnected by a lever 124 which in turn is secured to a piston cylinder assembly. The sprocket drive and piston cylinder assembly generally assume the position indicated in solid in FIG. 9 with the piston rod 128 being retracted in cylinder 126 to thereby provide sufficient clearance for the tractor 18 to move past chain 118. The arrival of the tractor at the load or unload station operates a suitably located limit switch (not shown) which actuates the piston cylinder assembly to extend piston rod 128 and move the sprocket chain 118 to the position indicated in phantom in FIG. 9 whereby the chain 118 engages sprocket 100. Each of such actuating assemblies is provided at the loading and unloading station so that spindle 90 can be moved up or down in accordance with the direction of rotation of sprocket chain 118. At the load station, cam 116 moves down and operates limit switch 114 which signals that the hooks are engaged. This causes the piston assembly 126 to retract and the loading device to move away. Similarly, at. the unloatd station, cam 116 moving upwards operates switch 114 which signals that the hooks are disengaged and the piston 126 retracts and the unloading device takes the work away.

Although this invention has been described with particular reference to railroad car wheels it is to be understood that the work carrier may be used for transporting other articles wherein it is desirable to insert the carrier through a small opening in the article.

What is claimed is:

1. A work carrier for use in abrasive cleaning arrangements comprising a housing, means for supporting said housing, a plurality of generally vertical work engaging arms, each arm having a hook-like projection at one end for engaging work and an offset extension at the other end, said housing having a plurality of ledges, and shoulders, each of said offset extensions being confined between a respective ledge and shoulder in loose pivotable engagement, and actuating means for selectively moving said arms outwardly away from each other into a work engaging position and inwardly toward each other into a work releasing position, said actuating means including a vertically movable spindle terminating in a spherical actuation member disposed in said housing, each of said arms having a knob with a recess above said spherical member and a tapered contact surface which is inclined from its recess toward the longitudinal axis of said spherical member to a point below said spherical member whereby said arms are arranged for confining said spherical member in engagement with said arms.

2. A work carrier according to claim 1 including translatory means for moving said support means in a forward direction and means for rotating said housing and work carried thereby.

3. A work carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spindle includes an externally threaded extension, a sprocket having internal threads engaging said externally threaded extension, and means for preventing said spindle from rotating with said sprocket whereby rotation of said sprocket causes said spindle to move selectively up and down.

4. A work carrier as set forth in claim 3 including a spindle casing, said spindle being connected to said spindle casing for rotation therewith and for relative vertical movement within and with respect to said casing, and said rotation means including a sprocket mounted on said casing.

5. A work carrier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said casing terminates at its lower end in a cap, said housing being open at its upper end, said cap closing said open upper end, and each of said shoulders being a flange on said cap.

6. A work carrier as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cap includes an axial opening through which said spindle extends, and expandable sealing means connecting said cap to said spindle to maintain said axial opening sealed during the vertical movement of said spindle. 

1. A work carrier for use in abrasive cleaning arrangements comprising a housing, means for supporting said housing, a plurality of generally vertical work engaging arms, each arm having a hook-like projection at one end for engaging work and an offset extension at the other end, said housing having a plurality of ledges, and shoulders, each of said offset extensions being confined between a respective ledge and shoulder in loose pivotable engagement, and actuating means for selectively moving said arms outwardly away from each other into a work engaging position and inwardly toward each other into a work releasing position, said actuating means including a vertically movable spindle terminating in a spherical actuation member disposed in said housing, each of said arms having a knob with a recess above said spherical member and a tapered contact surface which is inclined from its recess toward the longitudinal axis of said spherical member to a point below said spherical member whereby said arms are arranged for confining said spherical member in engagement with said arms.
 2. A work carrier according to claim 1 including translatory means for moving said support means in a forward direction and means for rotating said housing and work carried thereby.
 3. A work carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spindle includes an externally threaded extension, a sprocket having internal threads engaging said externally threaded extension, and means for preventing said spindle from rotating with said sprocket whereby rotation of said sprocket causes said spindle to move selectively up and down.
 4. A work carrier as set forth in claim 3 including a spindle casing, said spindle being connected to said spindle casing for rotation therewith and for relative vertical movement within and with respect to said casing, and said rotation means including a sprocket mounted on said casing.
 5. A work carrier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said casing terminates at its lower end in a cap, said housing being open at its upper end, said cap closing said open upper end, and each of said shoulders being a flange on said cap.
 6. A work carrier as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cap includes an axial opening through which said spindle extends, and expandable sealing means connecting said cap to said spindle to maintain said axial opening sealed during the vertical movement of said spindle. 